Okay I went to a dealership and i fell in love with this 2008 honda ridgeline. I test drove it and ride nice im looking for a big car anyway. I notice it smells like something is burning as i took a look at the engine i noticed a little oil on the engine the guy from the dealer told me is a gasket leaking he said he will get a mechanic to fix it. Now my question is can trust this guy to fix this and should i risk to buy this car?? Please let me know and thanks for every word of wisdom!!

This is a 2008 car so it is not even certified by Honda or anything. The consensus here is that with every used car purchase, any red flag should be grounds for walking away.

Save yourself some headache and go find another car to buy. If this was an easy and cheap fix, it would already be fixed before going on sale. Also, probably the car was neglected anyway and other issues are going to come up.

It’s never wise to fall in love with something that can’t love you back. There are always cars available. Salespeople count on your emotional attachment to the vehicle. As Tester suggests, get a cold rational appraisal of its state of repair before committing to anything.

Find out if and when the timing belt was changed. This was due in 2015, but may have been postponed by the previous owner if the mileage was less than 105,000. This maintenance is an absolute must. The 3.5L V6 is an interference engine with a timing belt. If the belt brakes, you need another engine. The cost will be around $1000 for the belt, water pump, coolant, seals, and pulleys.

You’ve gotten some really good advice in here. I’ll second having it written down. Salesman verbal promises are often known as “lies,” and after you buy the car it’s your word against his whether he said it or not. If it’s not written down, it’s not part of the deal.

I’ll also second getting the car inspected by an independent mechanic (not the dealership’s shop!) before you buy.

the dealer told me is a gasket leaking he said he will get a mechanic to fix it.